Picker stick check



Sept. 27, 1932. v. LINDSJO PICKERSTICK CHECK Filed Sept. 29. 1931 IN ENTOR .MT/VE 5 S CLINTON S. COBUEN.

A TTURYE Y.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES ZPAITENTI omen vnnnnn mrnnsao; or .Ho P-EDALE, nessnonusn'rrs, nssrenoniro nnArnn connon 'rron, on nor-"snare, MAssA-cHUsnrrs, n oonroRA'rIoN or. MAINE rrcnnnsrrcx CHECK iAjpplication filedSeptember 9, I931; Serial no. 565,771. i

This invention relatesto looms, and more particular'lyto means for checking the movements oftlie picker stick. j v i It is customary to provide the picker sticks with check devices consisting of a loop member having side runs between which the picker stick oscillates as it alternately picks and checks the shuttle, and means for frictionally retarding the movement of the loop 111' member. Ordinarily the side runs of the loop member are flat and positioned in a vertical plane.

It hasbeen found that thepicker stick at each 'endof itsmovement tends to pull these side runs down upon the supporting members therefor, resulting in very' rapid wear of the loop member. It has also been proposed to position these side runs in a horizontal plane so that their broad surfaces were exposed to the aforementioned wearing actioni V 'I have found that this construction is objectionable, for the reason that the sudden impact of-the picker stick on the ends of the loop member will cause the side runs to crowd together and thus rub upon the picker stick, and wear both the stick and the loop member. I propose to overcome both of these difliculties by ofisetting the objectionable lateral movements of the runs one against the other.

I accomplish this by positioning the friction exerting guides so as to hold portions at least of the plane surfaces of theside runs inclined downwardly and outwardly away from the plane of the picker stick.

A further objectionable feature of previous picker stick checks is that unintended variations in force of movements of the picker stick in one direction or the other, and the variations in the overthrowof the loop member as it is moved by thepicker stick, cause the loop member to be variably positioned for its checking action. This, of course, results in an irregular and uneven checking of the shuttle with its attendant disadvantages.

It is-accordingly an object of my invention to provide a picker stick check for looms comprising a loop member having side runs, portions at least of which are held in planes inc-lining downwardly and outwardly away fromthe plane of the picker of friction exerting guides. V i A further object of my invention is 'to'provide means for always uniformly. positioning Fig. 2is avertical cross sectional view on line of Fig. l.

The usual lay 1 is shown as provided with aceritre slot'2 within'whichoscillates picker stick 3.- The picker stickis rocked about its foot portion from the full line position shown in Fig.1 to the dotted line position, to pick the shuttle through the shed. The mechanism for so moving the picker stick is not illustrated or describedas it forms no part of the present invention and many such mechanisms are well known in the art. When the shuttle'is returned from the other side of the loom it moves the picker stick back to its initial position, and it is for gently slowing down and stoppingthis latter movement that the check is provided; The checking means for the picker stick consists of a loop member indicated generally at 4, which is-comprised of side runs 5 of suitable oblong cross section, preferably rectangular, connected at their ends by any usual means, such as bolts 6 carrying leather washers 7 This loop member is supported by guides which also serve to frictionally retard its movement. Each guide consists essentially of a bracket 8 having a pair of arms 9 and 10 extending toward the picker stick, The'upper arm 10 is provided witha friction surface 11 which is inclined downwardly and outwardly away from the plane of the picker stick, the arm thus constituting one of a pair of opposed friction members. A set screw 12 extends through the lower arm 9 and'has a smooth point 13 rotatably engaging an aperture in the other friction member 14. This friction member: 1'4 is provided with a fric tion surface 15 which is parallel to the fricstick by means I surfaces may vary slightly with different types of looms, but is so proportioned that the tendencyof the side runs to crowd to-' gether when the picker stick strikes the end of the loop member offsets the tendency of the downward pull on the endof the loop member to cause the sideruns to be moved to the. lower edges of theirrespective, guides.

The length of the loop i'nember isso'mewhat less than the extent of movement of'the picker stick. The picker stick will, therefore, engage and move the loop member in opposite directions as it alternatelynpicks and checks the shuttle. varyingconditionstof operation may cause the picker stick to tend to overthrow in its picking direction to a greater or less extent, "and the loop member may also overthrow in the same direction to varying extents. g :f In'order to' cause the loop member' l to'jalways stop at the same position at the inner end of its movement I have provided'an element engaging the loop member and limiting the extent of its movement in the shuttle checking direction. This element, as shown, may consist of-a flexible strap 16 engagin about the outer end of the loop member and secured at one end as at 17 to-the-lay. This element being flexible in nowise interferes with the normal action of-the picker stick check, but does effectually limit its movement under abnormal operating conditions.

. It is to be under stood that the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated and 'described is for purposes of illustration only, and not of limitation, as theconstr'uction dis; closed may be departed from inmany respects of oblong cross section between which runs the picker stick oscillates, the picker stick ens gaging and moving the loop member in 0pposite directions as it alternately picks and checks the shuttle, a friction exerting guide for each'siderun' of the loop member, each guide'including a bracket having a pair of arms extending toward the picker stick, one

arm constituting a friction member having -its'-run engaging surface inclined downward ly away fromJthe plane of the picker stick and theother arm carrying an adjustable frictionmember having a run engaging surface opposed .and substantially parallel to between which the picker stick oscillates, the

picker stick engaging and moving the loop memberinopposite directions as it alternately picks and checks the shuttle, a friction exerting guide for each side run of the loop member, .each guide including opposed friction, members having parallel contiguous surfaces inclined downwardly and outwardly away fromtheplane ofthe-picker stick and means including a set screw foradjustably urging said friction members together, and an element engaging said loop member .and

limiting the extent of its movement in" one direction.

.VERNER LINDSJO.

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

,Iclaimz' r 1. A picker stick check for looms comprising a loop member having flexible side runs of oblong cross section between which runs the.

picker stick oscillates, the picker stickl'engag ng and movingthe loop member in opposlte directions as it alternately picks and checks the shuttle,'a friction exerting guide for each side run of theloop member, each guide including opposed friction-members having parallel contiguous surfaces engaging opposite sides of the respective run, said surfaces being inclined downwardly and outwardly away from the plane stick, and means for urging members together.

2. A picker stick check for looms comprising a loop member having flexible side runs said friction of the picker 

